Ghostly Scream

By Michelle Louring

They might be better dressed, but mages can be just as fickle as demons . . .

Disavowed by the clergy, Selissa is left to fend for herself when her actions lead her to become a prisoner of Var’nori.
She is given the choice between staying locked up within the walls of the mage city or accepting to become an apprentice of the secretive magister, Feryll. It’s really not much of a choice.
Because while her life has changed a lot over the last few years, one thing is still very much true:
Selissa really, really doesn’t like mages.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Michelle Louring
• Release date: Oct 17, 2019
• ISBN: 9780463956021

Michelle Louring

Wayward Dane, writing high fantasy in English!By now you have probably read hundreds of author bios showcasing various fancy awards and such. I won't bore you with that (mostly because I don't have any...), so here's a few things about me:1. I'm a total geek2. I'm into gaming3. I own an owl4. I probably mostly own an owl because no one would sell me a dragon5. I do archery6. I do cosplay7. I'm really not nearly as interesting as the above facts would lead you to believe

Book preview

Chapter 1

—and the horse you rode in on!

Selissa’s string of obscenities was cut short when her captors threw her in a cell, locking the door behind her. Stumbling back on her feet, she grabbed the bars of the door and called out to the retreating guards.

"A dungeon? Really, you’re leaving me in a dungeon? When she didn’t get an answer, she raised her voice and shouted down the hall, At least tell me you don’t keep a dragon down here!"

The echo of her voice died down and Selissa finally realized they had left her all alone. Shoulders heaving — partly from being manhandled, partly from screaming herself hoarse — she sunk to the floor of the cell, glaring into the empty hall outside. A small part of her considered blowing the door off its hinges, but she figured Var’nori probably safeguarded their prisons against volatile magic.

Besides, that’s how she got into this mess to begin with.

By the time she heard someone coming down the stairs, Selissa was just about ready to throw caution to the wind and see how far brute force would get her. But the sound of robes dragging across the stone floor made her jerk away from her examination of the cell door, a new curse springing to her lips. It quickly died once her visitor came into view.

I hardly believed it when the guards told me who they arrested today. But here you are. The words were spoken with a soft melodious voice that should have belonged to a bard, not the powerful archmage who stepped into the halls of the prison at that moment.

Just like on her first visit to Var’nori years prior, Selissa was stuck by Serendia’s beauty. But it no longer filled her with the same awe it once had. She had learned too much about both magic and women to believe the mage’s appearance was entirely real.

Please tell me you’re here to let me out, Selissa said, refusing to acknowledge the history between them. The scared and confused young woman Serendia had met years earlier had been deeply buried, and Selissa felt reluctant to ask for help from someone who would still see that girl when they looked at her standing in that cell.

Still, it wasn’t like anyone else was coming to save her.

Serendia raised one thin blonde eyebrow and gave the other woman an unimpressed look. Do you think I can just let you out of here?

Stubbornly, Selissa crossed her arms over her chest. I didn’t do anything.

You set a man on fire, the archmage said flatly.

Selissa grimaced. "Okay, so I did something."

Another blonde eyebrow joined the first and Serendia watched her for a few terse seconds before asking, "Why did you set a man on fire?"

Selissa let her arms fall to her side in exasperation and started pacing the cell. Why does it matter? Since when is it illegal to set fools on fire?

Fool or not, I do not believe it has ever been legal to set people on fire, Serendia said while she watched Selissa walk back and forth inside the small cell. But speaking of foolish . . . Using untrained magic to assault someone in front of Var’nori guards might not have been the wisest course of action.

Remembering the spell that had paralyzed her, Selissa winced and rubbed her chest. "I didn’t know they were Var’nori guards."

On second thought, she probably should have recognized the pristine white and silver robes before she started throwing around fireballs.

She wasn’t about to tell the archmage that the man she had turned into a bonfire was a bounty hunter. A rather tenacious one at that. Lighting him on fire had seemed like a suitable distraction, giving her enough time to lose him while he was flailing around. Selissa was quite confident it would have been, if the guards had been ordinary soldiers and not trained mages.

As it was, she doubted having bounty hunters on her heels would make her seem much more innocent in the eyes of Serendia.

You should not take this lightly, the archmage said quietly. They have not forgotten, you know.

Who has not forgotten? Forgotten what? Selissa asked, uncomfortable with the sudden shift in the conversation.

The Council of Var’nori, Serendia said. A display of untrained magic such as the one you demonstrated today would never have reached my ears if it had come from an ordinary sorceress.

Realization dawned on Selissa. The angelic magic. Their detection spells sensed it the last time.

Word didn’t have time to reach the Council last time, and the clergy’s protection of you kept them from acting later on. But if what I hear is true, Serendia pursed her lips, you no longer enjoy said protection.

Don’t believe everything you hear, Selissa said with a wry smile, even though she could tell from the look in the archmage’s eyes that the other woman saw through her bluff.

Letting out a humorless laugh, Selissa stepped back and regarded the bars of her cage. I’m not getting out of here anytime soon, am I?

Serendia’s voice betrayed no emotions, I’m afraid not.

So you’re going to keep me down here in your prison forever? Selissa asked with a smile that showed just a few too many teeth. I should have stayed in Ver’dohna. At least an execution would be more merciful.

Do not be so melodramatic, Serendia said. The Council will decide what to do with you.

So my fate will be decided by a group of self-righteous mages with their heads so far up their asses they won’t be able to hear a word I might say to my defense? Selissa tilted her head at the archmage, smiling tightly. No offense.

Serendia watched her thoughtfully, as if she was trying to see behind the anger and the scathing words. Selissa really wished she would stop.

You have changed, the older woman said finally.

Selissa took a step closer and glared at the mage through the bars of the cell door. Oh, really? Maybe it’s because you’re not the first person to stand before me and claim to have the right to decide over my life.

The words struck a nerve, but the uncertainty in Serendia’s eyes fled as the archmage stepped back and composed herself. Lifting her chin, the beautiful mage met Selissa’s eyes, and when she spoke, it was with the authority of a person who was on the right side of a prison door.

No one is interested in keeping you a prisoner. If, when you’re brought before the Council, you show a bit of willingness, we might just reach a conclusion that suits everyone. The mage smiled wryly, then added, Provided you don’t set anyone on fire.

Selissa’s lips twisted. I can’t promise anything.

Recognizing a lost cause when she saw it, the archmage sighed and turned to leave. Stopping at the foot of the stairs, Serendia paused with a hand on the banister and looked over her shoulder. We only want to help you, she said softly.

Selissa chuckled darkly. I highly doubt that.

The words hung in the air as the mage disappeared from view and Selissa sunk to the floor, cursing both bounty hunters and angels with every fiber of her being.

Chapter 2

The clergy had turned its back on her.

Not officially, of course. Doing so would be admitting to having worked with her in the first place.

Selissa realized she should have seen it coming. She had not really been subtle in the past few years and the increasing number of assassins and bounty hunters out for her blood suggested that her reputation was beginning to precede her. And for every enemy she made, the clergy distanced itself just a little bit further from her.

It wouldn’t do to be associated with the likes of her, of course.

But then again, the last time she had tried to help someone in need, she had inadvertently started a Ver’dohnian civil war. So she supposed their stance could be justified.

But that hadn’t made Serendia’s remark about her lack of protection sting any less. For two years, Selissa had carried out the clergy’s orders like a good little mercenary, doing the work they wouldn’t dirty their own hands with. She had hunted down petty criminals who had gotten in too deep, and that was on a good day.

She had also faced a fallen angel for them.

But over the past year, she had become more trouble than she was worth in their eyes. Ever since Ver’dohna.

Selissa didn’t know how much they knew about her involvement in the mess that led to the death of Ver’dohna’s leader and commander, but from what she had managed to gather from the long line of mercenaries and other rabble she had encountered during the past year, whispers of what the commander and his henchmen had been doing in the shadows had spread among noble and criminal alike.

And if those whispers carried even a sliver of the truth, as well as names of those involved in the commander’s fall, Selissa knew why she hadn’t heard a word from the priests for months.

The thought that she could count on no outside support was not a comforting one as the Var’nori guards guided her through a series of hallways leading to where she was meeting the Council. It seemed her only defense was her charm.

Which pretty much meant she was doomed.

Flanked on both sides by guards, Selissa tried not to let her feelings show. That they had neither bound her nor placed any enchantments when they retrieved her from her cell only made it worse. It meant that they were confident she wouldn’t get far, even if she did try to run.

‘You are not going to your execution,’ a whisper sounded in her mind.

‘I’m an unruly sorceress going before the leaders of a city known to hunt down people like me on principle,’ Selissa thought wryly. ‘I’m not having high hopes about the outcome.’

A towering door came into view at the end of the hallway. As they approached, one of the guards waved his hand and it swung open with a groan while they were still several feet away.

Neat trick, Selissa said lightly. What’s the main event?

The guards kept staring ahead, her question met by stony silence.

Turning her eyes back to the door, she took a deep breath and released it slowly. Right, then. Guess there’s no way around it.

Head held high, Selissa stepped into the chamber, the guards stalking close behind as she passed through the door. Blinking slightly at the sunlight streaming into the white-painted room, her eyes fell on the five mages seated along the walls. Locating Serendia to her right, Selissa could only assume the rest were her fellow archmages.

The man at the far end of the room got up from his seat, stepping around the wooden desk placed in front of it. He took a few steps towards her and clasped his hands before him.

It’s a pleasure finally meeting you in person, he said. We have heard quite a lot about you.

The ease and familiarity with which he spoke had Selissa on edge and she watched him warily through narrowed eyes. Somewhere in his sixties, the man before her was not the eldest of the mages present, but he was clearly their leader. She wasn’t going to buy his friendly act.

Whatever you heard, I’m sure it was grossly exaggerated, she said airily.

The mage smiled, but it was without humor. His companions exchanged looks, but remained quiet as he spoke again.

I seem to remember you fighting a demon worshipper in this very city just three years back, he reminded her calmly. The various reports of your exploits since then does not exactly belie that first impression.

"I was attacked by an assassin. Trust me, Ardeth doesn’t worship anything, much less demons, Selissa said, letting out a huff. And are you really going to blame me for the actions of some deranged demon cult wanting me dead?"

Ardeth . . . This time it was one of the mages to her left who spoke. He leaned forward, resting his elbows on the table between them. Does this familiarity mean there’s something to the rumors of you consorting with assassins?

Selissa clenched her jaw and glared at the mage, her voice dripping with disdain, Please do tell me why that is any of your business?

It just seems strange that you would put your trust in someone who not only tried to kill you, but who used to work together with the likes of the Demios, the mage replied.

The ones you should worry about are not the ones that let you know you shouldn’t trust them. It’s the ones that smile at you and says you should. A grin spread across Selissa’s face and she smiled at the seated mage. "Besides, who said anything about trust? I’m sure those rumors were referring to something a bit different when talking about consorting."

One of the other archmages coughed awkwardly while the one who had raised the question gaped at her, scrambling to regain his composure. Grin widening just slightly, Selissa turned her attention back to the Council’s leader.

We are not here to discuss your allies, however questionable they might be, he said calmly.

Selissa’s smile tightened. No. You want to talk about the archangel I’m playing host to.

You have to understand our concern— the archmage began before Selissa cut him off.

"I don’t have to do anything, she said sharply. I did not choose this and I won’t let you decide my fate because of it. Someone already did that once, when they decided to use me as a vessel."

It had to be done, one of the archmages said, but his voice was not without sympathy.

Selissa met his eyes coolly. I was just a child. What gave them the right? she asked tightly.

That’s not our place to say, Serendia said softly. Unable to face the compassion in the mage’s eyes, Selissa turned away, hanging on to her anger as the still unnamed leader of the group spoke again.

While the events leading to this situation might not have been fair to you, it is the duty of Var’nori and its mages to protect the world from dangerous magic, he said seriously. We can not, in good conscience, allow an untrained sorceress with this much power to roam free.

Then I’ll train her.

Everyone in the room froze, eyes going to the newcomer standing by the door, looking for all the world like he had been invited to be there. Selissa’s questions were cut short before she even opened her mouth as the archmage turned to acknowledge the man who clearly wasn’t a stranger to anyone but her.

Magister Feryll, he said coldly. This is none of your concern.

Not even when I have the solution to your problem, Barin? the man said amiably.

You are not a member of this Council, and as such, you do not get a say in this matter, Barin said coolly. Even if you did, I doubt you and I agree on how this should be handled.

No surprise there, seeing as you don’t agree with me on anything these days, old friend, the magister said with a wry smile. That’s why I felt compelled to interrupt this little meeting.

You are out of line, Feryll, Serendia said, a frown darkening her beautiful face. This is a complicated matter.

Is it really? Feryll questioned. You’re not going to lock the poor girl up and, as you said, you can’t allow someone untrained in using their powers to leave unattended. I’m both willing and capable of training her. It all seems very simple to me.

"Even if we decided to train her, what makes you think we would choose you to do so?" Barin asked.

Simple. The only ones talented enough to deal with this kind of potential are the mages in this room. And she clearly doesn’t like any of you. The magister grinned at Selissa, who in turn was watching him with a dumbstruck expression on her face. And as you have now made it very clear to her that you think rather lowly of me, she might be likely to accept my help just to spite you.

Realizing her mouth was hanging slightly open, Selissa snapped it shut while the mages fumed around her. She heard Serendia address the others, but tuned out the words while she regarded the stranger uncertainly. Feryll answered every question and accusation thrown his way, but his gaze stayed on Selissa, never once wavering under her scrutiny.

She could see it in those eyes. Silently he was asking her to trust him, while out loud he told her she really didn’t have a choice either way.

All right, she said softly, cutting Barin off mid-sentence. If it’s my only option, I suppose arguing is a waste of time. Teach me what I need to know.

The archmages slumped in resignation, knowing her acceptance of her punishment left them with little choice but to agree with the magister.

Feryll’s wry smile didn’t make Selissa any more confident that she had made the right choice.

Chapter 3

This day took an odd turn somewhere . . . Selissa mumbled as she followed the magister down the hallway. I’m not sure exactly how or when it happened. 

Oh, I know. You would think somebody could just go about their business, setting fire to a stranger or two, without being bothered, wouldn’t you? Feryll said, his tone so perfectly neutral that Selissa honestly wasn’t sure he was joking.

Silence stretched between them while they strode through the halls, ignoring the curious looks from the guards they passed. Trying to distract herself from it, Selissa took to studying the great white walls while they walked.

You know, a thank you would be in order, the magister said suddenly, causing Selissa’s head to snap back to him.

Thank you? she asked, anger creeping back into her voice. For what? Allowing me to trade one warden for another?

This is not a prison sentence, Selissa. She bristled at this stranger’s casual use of her name, but let him continue. Every mage as powerful as you have at one point in their life studied under a more experienced master.

"Well, I’m not a mage, Selissa said bitterly. I don’t belong in this perfect white city with my head stuffed in books all day, trying to be something I’m not."

I know, Feryll said calmly, looking at her out of the corner of his eye. Do you really think the old coots in there would have been this unhappy if they thought I was going to keep you here in Var’nori?

Surprise momentarily chased away the anger and Selissa looked at him curiously. We’re leaving?

First thing tomorrow, before Barin has a chance to change his mind, Feryll said, running a hand over the reddish-brown stubble covering his jaw. What I wouldn’t give to see the fit he’s going to throw over this as soon as nobody’s looking . . .

He’s an archmage. Shouldn’t he have the authority to deny you? Selissa asked. Quite frankly, it had surprised her that they had been allowed to leave at all, much less without much of a fight from Barin and the rest of the Council.

"The Council can force a magister to take on an apprentice. But they can’t prevent them from taking one, even if they don’t agree with their choice, Feryll explained. Of course, I wouldn’t be surprised if Barin tried to strip me of my title, just to get around that rule."

That sounds rather dull, Selissa said. I always imagined a feud between mages to involve more—

—setting fire to people?

Selissa scowled darkly at the mage, but let the comment slide. For starters, yes.

I’m sorry to disappoint, but it’s all bureaucracy and hidden agendas from here on out, Feryll said.

So that’s my first lesson? Selissa asked dryly. Do not use magic to attack people?

No . . . Feryll said slowly, shooting her a look. "The first lesson is ‘don’t get caught’."

Selissa blinked, momentarily too stunned to think of a reply. The teasing smile on the magister’s face was gone so quickly she wasn’t quite sure it had even been there to begin with, and he kept on walking briskly, leaving Selissa no other choice than to keep up.

ℓ

Pushing away the remains of the meal which had been delivered to her door, Selissa slumped to the floor and let her head hit the wall, stubbornly ignoring the selection of lavish furniture in the room she had been accommodated in.

Even the most shoddy, rat-infested tavern room would have made her more at ease than the sparkling clean luxury of the room wherein she had been pacing for most of the night, gradually realizing the gravity of her situation.

I’m going to need a way out of this city, she finally decided, muttering the words out loud as she tapped her fingers against her knee.

‘You don’t even have a way to get out of this room,’ Cadeyrn said in her mind. ‘Unless you plan on fighting your way past all the guards stationed between your door and the exit.’

I could go through the window, Selissa suggested, trying to ignore one glaring fact.

‘There are five floors down,’ the angel countered flatly.

Everyone has to go sometime.

‘You would rather be crushed against the cobblestones of Var’nori than take the chance to learn more about your abilities?’ Cadeyrn asked.

You make it sound like anyone is giving me a choice! Selissa snapped, jumping to her feet as she was unable to keep still anymore. "Besides, the last man I ended up following across Sinaria turned out to be a deceiving bastard. Oh, and undead. I’m not trusting this one just because he has better breath."

‘The alternative was worse back then, and I fear it will also be worse now,’ Cadeyrn said gravely. ‘You can choose to accept the protection given to those affiliated with Var’nori and its mages, or you can add them to the growing lists of factions hunting you down every day.’

That’s not— A knock on the door cut her off and Selissa shut her eyes tightly, taking a deep breath to calm herself.

Guess I’m out of time, she muttered softly, fighting down the trapped feeling that fact evoked. Schooling her expression into a neutral mask, knowing full well that nothing would hide the dark lines insomnia had painted underneath her eyes, she turned to the door and opened it to find